See Lloydlee Heite's awards and candid shots from the 2008-09 UMES Athletic Banquet.

Christina Estebané enters her third season as graduate assistant coach with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team after being one of the top setters in program history.

"I am thrilled that Bella is joining us," said head coach Don Metil of Estebané. "She was the MEAC Player of the Year [in 2008], knows the game and has played it at the highest levels. More importantly, she is a great person," Metil said. "The team looks up to her and respects her ability and knowledge. Not only will she help with on the floor coaching but she will help make the team better student-athletes."

Estebané, a 2009 UMES graduate and native of El Paso, Texas, was the starting setter for the 2007 and 2008 campaigns and led the team to consecutive undefeated conference seasons. UMES posted a combined 49-13 record during her tenure in the maroon and grey, including a perfect 20-0 in MEAC regular season matches.

Her first season with UMES she earned First Team All-MEAC as the top setter in the conference, tallying 1,118 assists, averaging nearly 10-and-a-half a match, plus 69 aces, tenth in the NCAA that season.

Then in 2008, Estebané was named MEAC Player of the Year, nearly equaling her impressive statistics from her first season with the Hawks, getting 1,115 assists with 70 aces and 321 digs, all team highs. She also earned her second straight First Team All-MEAC selection.

Previous to being a Hawk, she spent two years at Midland College in Texas. There she earned National Junior College Athletic Association All-America status in 2005 with 23 double-doubles and 100 aces that year. In her sophomore year, she tallied 839 assists and 303 kills in 121 games, earning 15 double-doubles.